CA1322386C - Connector with spring retention device - Google Patents

Connector with spring retention device

Info

Publication number
CA1322386C
CA1322386C CA000575932A CA575932A CA1322386C CA 1322386 C CA1322386 C CA 1322386C CA 000575932 A CA000575932 A CA 000575932A CA 575932 A CA575932 A CA 575932A CA 1322386 C CA1322386 C CA 1322386C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
connector
openings
pins
pin
grooves
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA000575932A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Michael V. Mineart
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
FMC Corp
Original Assignee
FMC Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by FMC Corp filed Critical FMC Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1322386C publication Critical patent/CA1322386C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D55/00Endless track vehicles
    • B62D55/08Endless track units; Parts thereof
    • B62D55/18Tracks
    • B62D55/20Tracks of articulated type, e.g. chains
    • B62D55/205Connections between track links
    • B62D55/21Links connected by transverse pivot pins
    • B62D55/211Bitubular chain links assembled by pins and double connectors
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/70Interfitted members
    • Y10T403/7016Diametric end slot is joint component

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Dowels (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An end connector for double-pin track shoes or the like receives a pair of pins having arcuate grooves therein. The connector includes pin receiving openings having small diameter pin engaging arcuate surfaces, and large diameter arcuate grooves therebetween which nest arcuate portions of a spring therein. The spring also includes resiliently stressed portions that snap into the arcuate grooves in the pins when assembled, and a cap screw operatively connected between two walls of the connector clamps the connector onto the pins, thus providing double protection for maintaining the connector on the pins.

Description

CONNECTOR WITH SPRING RETENTION DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of_the Invention The present invention relates to connectors 5 and more specifically to connectors with spring retention devices for use with double-pin track shoes.
Description of the Prior Art Double-pin track shoe connectors are well known in the art such as disclosed in United States 10 Korner Patent 3,597,019; Pietzsch et al 4,136,913;
Stolz 4,141,599 and Erlenmair et al 4,583,792.
Typically a double-pin track shoe assembly includes a track shoe body, a pair of track shoe pins extending through and projecting out of the opposite ends o the body, and two end connectors which are clamped on opposite ends of adjacent pins in adjacent track shoes. The end connectors are generally ; patterned after two types of configurations, a clamp type as shown in Korner 3,597,019 and Pietzsch et al 2~ 4,136,913 which uses only cap screws and bolts, respectively, for applying the clamping force; and a ."
wedge type as shown in Stolz 4,141,599. In these prior art devices a single fastener such as a cap ` screw or bolt is the only means by which the end connector is secured to the pins Loosening of the single connector leads to a loss of clamping force between the connector and the pins which may cause loss of the connector causing track separation. This may cause loss of vehicle control and possible injury to the vehicle, the vehicle's crew, and other people oe property in the vicinity of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, end connector retention is assured, even in the event the clamping bolt or cap screw loosens or is completely - lost. A retention spring is fitted in a groove formed : ~k . . , ', '' , :. ~ .,.:. :; ,:,:

" :
.: :,.
~ : , -.. :

11 32238g~

in a portion of each end connector and has a resilient portion which snaps into mating grooves in the track pins when the connector is slid over the pins into operativ~
position. Fastener means such as a cap screw is then tightened to firmly clamp the connPctor to the pins. If the cap screw loosens or falls out, the retention spring prevents the connector from sliding off the pins, but may be intentionally released by a spring depressing tool such as a screw driverO

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective of a pair of track shoes and a pair of end connectors and locking springs of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a section taken along lines 2 - 2 of Figure 1 illustrating the connector and locking spring in clamping position on a pair of track shoe pins.
Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 but illustrates the connector in an unclamped position with a double pronged spring depressing tool shown in phantom.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The end connector 10 (Figs. 1 - 3) of the present invention is specifically intended for connecting double-pin track shoes 12 of a track laying vehicle together, although it will be understood that the connector 10 may be used in other environments. As used herein and in the claims, it will be understood that the term pin includes rods, shafts, and other similar members desired to be connected together.
Each track shoe is provided with two connecting pins 14 which project out both ends of the shoe. The end portion of each pin 14 is chamfered at , .
:, _ . ~
:; ~

.

, . ' ' ~

~3223~

16 and includes a connector engaging locking surface 18 illustrated as a flat surface! and an arcuate groove 20. Each end connector 10 includes a body 22 having an upper or first wall 24 (as viewed in Figs. 1 5 - 3), a lower or second wall 26, and arcuate end walls 28. Openings 30 and 32 in the upper and lower walls ~ are provided to receive a fastener 33 whic~. i5 illustrated as a cap screw that is screwed into the .~ threaded hole 32. A slot 34 com~unicates with a pair 10 of pin receiving openings 36 that are formed in the body 22. Each pin receiving opening 36 is provided ~ with a flat clamping surface 38, a pair of small ; diameter arcuate surfaces 40 (Fig. 1), a spring receiving large diameter arcuate surface 42, and a .. 15 shallow channel 44 in the lower wall 26.
~ An elongated resilient retention spring 50 : includes arcuate end portions 52 interconnected by narrow connecting members 54 which with the j intermediate portion of the elongated spring defines 20 an opening for accommodating the fastener 33. Inner ' resiliently stressed clamping sections 56 of the '~ retention spring are partially severed from the : arcuate end portion 52 and are bent to a smaller ;~ radius with a reverse bend 58 on the inner ends thereof. In order to mount the retention spring 50 ::` within the slots 42 and 44 in the connector body 22, the length of the spring is foreshortened by bending, thus allowing the spring to be pushed past the small diameter arcuate surfaces 40 for acceptance within the .~ 30 large diameter arcuate surfaces 42 and the channel 44. The fastener 33 is initially loosely screwed into ; the connector 10 thereby maintaining the body 22, the fastener 33, and the spring 50 together as a unit.
In order to assembly the end connector 10 onto a pair of connecting pins 14, the connector unit . .
.
,~

, ,: : .. ,. .. : ~
. :,.. . , . ~: ~ . ,.. : ; :
: ~ ,.: . : :
.. . .. : :

~ 3223~

is first aligned with the pins and is pushed transversely onto the pins. The chamfered edges 16 of the pin cam the resiliently stressed inner clamping sections 56 downwardly into the position shown in Figure 3, and further movement of the connector 10 onto the pins allows the clamping sections to resiliently snap into the small diameter groove 20 (Fig. 1) of the pin 14, thereby definin~ the first connector lock which prevents further axial movement of the connector relative to the pins 14. The ; fastener 33 (Fig. 3) is then tightened thereby clamping the surfaces 18, 38 firmly together as shown in Figure 2, thus defining a second connector lock which locks the end connector 10 to the connecting pins 14 of the track shoe 12.
; In the event the fastener 33 loosens or falls out of the connector 10, contact between the clamping sections 56 of the spring and the groove edges of the small diameter surfaces 28 of the pins will maintain ;~
the connector 10 on the pins.
When it is desired to remove a connector 10 from a pair of pins 14, the fastener 33 is loosened allowing the upper wall 24 to resiliently move '!~ upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 at which time a clamping force is released between the pins 14 and the connector 10. A suitable tool such as a screw driver, or a double pronged screw driver 60 as illu~trated in phantom lines in Figure 3, is used to pry the clamping sections 56 of the spring 50 downwardly as illustrated in Figure 3 thereby allowing the connector to be easily removed from the pins 140 From the foregoing description it is apparent ~hat the connector with spring retaining device of the present invention provides double protection for maintaining the con,nector on a pair of pins of an . .
'' ~ "' '''' ~: .

,' : ~ ,' ~ ' ` i ' ~3223~

endless track or the like.
Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent that modification and variation may be made without departing from what i5 regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.
AJM:smb

Claims (12)

1. A connector link for connecting together successive coupling pin end portions of coupling pins protruding axially from adjacent ends of successive links in an articulated track type linkage, the connector link of the type having a generally oval shaped tubular body with longitudinal sides merging into transverse curved ends, the curved ends having coupling pin receiving openings and the longitudinal sides having axially aligned bolt openings extending perpendicular to and midway between the pin openings, cooperating anti-rotational means on the protruding pin end portions and in the pin openings for preventing rotation of the pins, and a compression bolt threaded into a threaded portion of the bolt openings for use in compressing the pin end portions in the pin openings, characterized by:
spring retaining grooves on the protruding pin end portions and in the pin openings; and by a clip spring means seated in the grooves for precluding unintentional withdrawal of the pin end portions from the pin openings in the event of the release of compression between the pin end portions and the pin openings.
2. The connector link according to claim 1, characterized by one longitudinal side having a dropped outer center section and the opposite longitudinal side having a humped inner mid-section, and wherein both sections are provided with the axially aligned bolt openings and the mid-section is provided with the threaded portion.
3. The connector link according to claim 2, characterized by the spring retaining grooves in the coupling pin receiving openings connected to one another by parallel grooves on the diametrically opposite sides of the threaded bolt opening in the mid-section.
4. The connector link according to claim 3, characterized by the clip spring means having an intermediate portion integrally formed with outer resilient end sections formed to snap-fit in the grooves in the coupling pin receiving openings and with resilient inner end sections formed to snap-fit in the grooves in the pin end portions, and the intermediate portion formed to fit substantially flush in the parallel grooves in the mid-section.
5. The connector link according to claim 4 characterized by the intermediate portion having a bolt opening aligned with the bolt openings in the center section and mid-section.
6. The connector link according to claim 4, characterized by the cooperating anti-rotational means comprising interfacing flat portions provided in the coupling pin receiving openings and on the pin end portions.
7. The connector link according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the pin end portions are chamfered for camming the resilient inner end sections substantially flush into the grooves in the coupling pin receiving openings upon assembly of the connector link onto coupling pins.
8. The connector link according to claim 7, characterized in that the dropped outer section is deflected toward the humped inner mid-section by tightening a bolt mounted in the aligned bolt openings thereby clamping the interfacing flat portions together and locking the clip spring means in the grooves and the coupling pins in the coupling pin receiving openings.
9. The connector link according to claim 7, characterized by means for disassembling the linked connector link and extracting the pin end portions from the coupling pin receiving openings by the means flexing the resilient inner end sections out of the grooves in the pin portions and holding the inner end section in the grooves in the coupling pin receiving openings.
10. The connector link according to claim 4, characterized in that the thickness of the intermediate portion and the resilient outer and inner end sections are substantially equal to that of the depth of the spring retaining grooves on the pin end portions and in the coupling pin receiving openings and in the mid-section.
11. A track shoe end connector comprising:
means defining a body having a first wall spaced from a second wall and integrally connected together by end walls with first and second walls having aligned fastener openings therein;
means defining end openings in said end walls including arcuate portions for accommodating end portions of connector pins;
means defining an arcuate slot within each end opening means and having a radius larger than that of said associated end openings means;
resilient locking means formed from flat spring material having a fastener opening therein and including interconnected resilient arcuate sections received within said arcuate slots and further having resilient arcuate locking portions stressed to move radially inward of said arcuate slots when in locking position; and fastener means removably received in said fastener openings in said first wall, said second wall, and said resilient locking means for maintaining said locking means within said body, said resilient locking means being resiliently retained within said body when said fastener means is removed from said body.
12. A track shoe connector for locking two spaced parallel pins having arcuate grooves therein together comprising:
means defining a connector body having a first wall spaced from a second wall and integrally connected together by end walls, said first and second walls having connector openings therein;
means defining a pin receiving opening in each end wall shaped to slidably accept the pins in response to transverse movement between said body and said pins and to prevent rotation of said pins relative to said body;
means defining an elongated spring receiving channel in said second wall communicating with arcuate spring receiving slots in said end portions of said end walls; and means defining an elongated spring formed from flat spring material having a central opening therein and fitted in said channel and slots and normally held from transverse movement out of said channel, said spring means including end portions conforming to a portion of the shape of said arcuate slots and having spaced resiliently stressed clamping sections which are resiliently urged into the arcuate grooves in said pins and are adapted to engage side walls of said slots in said connector body for locking said pins from transverse movement relative to said connector body; and fastener means removably received in said connector openings in said connector body walls and in said central opening in said elongated spring means; said spring means locking said connector body to said spaced pins when said fastener means is dislodged from said connector body for precluding unintentional separation of said end connector from said connector pins.
CA000575932A 1987-09-24 1988-08-29 Connector with spring retention device Expired - Fee Related CA1322386C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/100,645 US4838623A (en) 1987-09-24 1987-09-24 Connector with spring retention device
US07/100,645 1987-09-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1322386C true CA1322386C (en) 1993-09-21

Family

ID=22280798

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000575932A Expired - Fee Related CA1322386C (en) 1987-09-24 1988-08-29 Connector with spring retention device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US4838623A (en)
EP (1) EP0308672A1 (en)
CA (1) CA1322386C (en)

Families Citing this family (17)

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US5355908A (en) * 1986-01-15 1994-10-18 Hiltap Fittings, Ltd. Reusable pipe union assembly with automatic fluid flow checking
US5707152A (en) * 1986-01-15 1998-01-13 Krywitsky; Lee A. Method for using reusable pipe union and pipe cap assembly for wide thermal cycling
US5678607A (en) * 1986-01-15 1997-10-21 Krywitsky; Lee A. Reusable pipe union and pipe cap assembly for wide thermal cycling
FR2766450B1 (en) * 1997-07-22 1999-09-17 Giat Ind Sa DEVICE FOR CONNECTING TRACK LINKS
EP1172288B1 (en) * 2000-02-14 2006-03-01 Komatsu Ltd. Fixing structure between links and pins in crawler
US6290313B1 (en) * 2000-05-22 2001-09-18 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Track end connector
DE10130385B4 (en) * 2001-06-23 2011-09-22 Diehl Remscheid Gmbh & Co.Kg End connector for track chains
US6783196B2 (en) * 2002-08-13 2004-08-31 Caterpillar Inc Master link for a track chain
GB2394454B (en) * 2002-10-23 2006-02-22 William Cook Cast Products Ltd Connectors for articulated tracks for vehicles and tracks and track components including such connectors
EP1867561B1 (en) * 2006-06-09 2009-11-25 Chaiseri Metal & Rubber Co., Ltd. Track shoe assembly for tracked vehicle
JP4963128B2 (en) * 2009-11-25 2012-06-27 三菱重工業株式会社 Crawler connection structure
US8567513B2 (en) 2010-04-30 2013-10-29 T-3 Property Holdings, Inc. Hydraulic surface connector
US9004244B2 (en) 2013-03-14 2015-04-14 Arvinmeritor Technology, Llc Brake assembly with improved brake shoe retention
CN103465984A (en) * 2013-09-24 2013-12-25 昆山凯诺尔金属制品有限公司 Caterpillar track link
CN203803110U (en) * 2014-01-21 2014-09-03 瑞烨世纪(深圳)模型有限公司 Movable track model with simpleness, glue avoidance and dual-pin structure
US9216783B2 (en) * 2014-05-13 2015-12-22 Caterpillar Inc. Cap and pin retention system
DE202019000037U1 (en) * 2019-01-09 2020-01-13 FSB Forst- und Baumaschinen Service Burkhardt GmbH Chain drive

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US2398107A (en) * 1941-01-15 1946-04-09 Bowdil Company Mining machine chain lug
US2612056A (en) * 1951-06-06 1952-09-30 Frank Prox Company Inc Cutter chain structure
US2831716A (en) * 1955-04-04 1958-04-22 Waldes Kohinoor Inc Releasable couplings
DE1280075B (en) * 1961-03-02 1968-10-10 Rheinstahl Henschel Ag Crawler link
DE1932442U (en) * 1963-10-05 1966-02-10 Diehl K G SECURING DEVICE ON TRACK CHAIN CONNECTORS.
US3362759A (en) * 1965-03-02 1968-01-09 Diehl K G Connecting means for track link members
DE1680835B2 (en) * 1968-01-30 1976-09-02 Diehl Kg, 5630 Remscheid TRACK CHAIN FOR SWIMMING AND OFF-ROAD TRACKED VEHICLES
DE2657905C3 (en) * 1976-12-21 1981-03-26 Ibp Pietzsch Gmbh, 76275 Ettlingen Connection between the chain links of a crawler belt
DE2708538C3 (en) * 1977-02-28 1980-09-04 Ludwig Dr.-Ing. 7500 Karlsruhe Pietzsch Connection between the chain links of a crawler belt
DE2614691C3 (en) * 1976-04-05 1978-12-14 Pietzsch, Ludwig, Dr.-Ing., 7500 Karlsruhe Caterpillar
US4198814A (en) * 1978-08-31 1980-04-22 Rexnord Inc. Chain having disassembly detent
DE3405699C2 (en) * 1983-04-22 1985-08-01 Diehl GmbH & Co, 8500 Nürnberg Device as an assembly aid on caterpillars for tracked vehicles
US4700992A (en) * 1985-07-03 1987-10-20 General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. Endless track and components thereof for track laying vehicle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4838623A (en) 1989-06-13
EP0308672A1 (en) 1989-03-29

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